Canadian Lawyer invites senior lawyers, managing partners and in-house counsel to weigh in on Canada's leading boutiques in a variety of areas of law. Readers are asked to rank their top 10 boutiques from a list selected by our editorial staff.

From legal tech products and business valuation services to recruiters and legal research – the Canadian Lawyer Readers’ Choice Awards showcases the companies and products that prevailed among their competitors.

Twice a year, Canadian Lawyer invites senior lawyers, managing partners and in-house counsel to weigh in on the top 10 full-service, regional law firms based in different provinces across Canada each time.

Canadian Lawyer’s Top 25 Most Influential in the justice system and legal profession is the magazine's most-read feature. The annual survey asks readers to nominate and then cast their votes for the professions's best and brightest.

Jobsinlaw.ca is Canada’s go-to legal career site. By matching employers and recruiters with legal professionals, www.jobsinlaw.ca provides a cost-effective recruitment solution. Law firms, in-house legal departments and public sector organizations across Canada can find lawyers, legal professionals or legal support staff at all levels of qualification with jobsinlaw.ca.

The Lexpert CCCA Corporate Counsel Directory & Yearbook is a joint endeavour of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Lexpert. It provides the most extensive listing of corporate counsel in Canada.

Whether your matter is to do with criminal, family, employment, property, or immigration law, FindLaw.ca’s Lawyer Directory will help you connect with the right lawyers to help you with your legal issues.

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory comprises the results of an extensive peer survey. This comprehensive guide to legal talent in Canada identifies both leading lawyers and law firms from across the country.

Innovatio Awards celebrate in-house counsel, both individuals and teams, who have found ways to show leadership by becoming more efficient, innovative and creative in meeting the needs of their organizations within the Canadian legal markets

Presented by Lexpert, the prestigious Rising Stars Awards Gala honours winners from across Canada and welcomes law firm and in-house leaders and distinguished guests to celebrate and network with others who are at the top of the legal profession

The Canadian Dealmakers honour companies and individuals whose M&A transactions have significantly impacted their industry through innovation and growth; establishment of best practices; enhancement of customer needs and products; and creation of value

Innovatio Awards celebrate in-house counsel, both individuals and teams, who have found ways to show leadership by becoming more efficient, innovative and creative in meeting the needs of their organizations within the Canadian legal markets

The Lexpert CCCA Corporate Counsel Directory & Yearbook is a joint endeavour of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Lexpert. It provides the most extensive listing of corporate counsel in Canada.

The Canadian Legal Lexpert Directory comprises the results of an extensive peer survey. This comprehensive guide to legal talent in Canada identifies both leading lawyers and law firms from across the country.

The Lexpert CCCA Corporate Counsel Directory & Yearbook is a joint endeavour of the Canadian Corporate Counsel Association and Lexpert. It provides the most extensive listing of corporate counsel in Canada.

Lawyers' life - Spring

From east to west, Associates'' editors and readers round up fun ways to spend your time and dollars.

The best show shop in Victoria

Anyone who lives in or has ever visited Victoria, B.C. has always had the same complaint: there are no good shoe shops here. Well, not anymore. Footloose, right downtown on Fort Street, is THE best shop.

I’ve lived in Toronto and Vancouver and it rivals anything they offer. This is especially important this season when everyone is wearing boots and skinny jeans. Everywhere I go in Victoria, everywhere else I travel, I get complimented on my shoes and boots from Footloose. It carries great brands that you don’t see anywhere else — Marc, Hispanitas, Argiles — and the more trendy Fry and Fluevogs.

I’ll try to go in and buy a plain black heel for work and come out with a purple boot and a pink slingback with a gold bow.

Now that it’s wet out, they’ve got a great selection of rain boots and SmartWool socks. I picked one of each up and jumped through every puddle I could find. It was so liberating to not have to tip-toe through the puddles that usually soak me and wreck my dress shoes!

Footloose

637 Fort Street, Victoria, B.C.

— Alana Campbell

Cardinal Law

Getting Chocolatey all over Vancouver

Everyone has a weakness. Mine is chocolate. In fact, one of my must-stop places for some heavenly chocolate when visiting Toronto is Teuscher Chocolates (www.teuscher.com). If you too have a sweet tooth, or simply need a sugar rush, here are some of the places to visit in Vancouver (or online) for a dose of chocolate:

Cocoa powder — Bernard Callebaut cocoa powder
Callebaut carried on the history of five generations of Belgian chocolatiers after moving to Calgary 25 years ago. The company now has 28 stores in Canada, including the flagship one in Calgary, and four in the U.S. Most treats, including the aforementioned cocoa powder (500 g for $14.95), are available online at www.bernardcallebaut.com.

Chocolate fondue — Dark Chocolate fondue at Brix
As part of its late-night menu, Brix dark chocolate fondue is described thusly: “made with premium Michel Cluizel chocolate from France served with house baked goods and seasonal fresh fruit.” Mmmm.
www.brixvancouver.com

Iced chocolate drink — Blended iced chocolate drink from Mink Café
This cool treat is available in dark or milk chocolate with peppermint. As a bonus, you get a small piece of dark chocolate to nibble on with your order. www.minkchocolates.com

Chocolate bar — Thomas Haas bars
These chocolate bars, especially the delicious white chocolate with matcha green tea chocolate bar, are available in a number of stores including Urban Fare and Capers in Vancouver. www.thomashaas.com

— Charmane D. Sing,

Oyen Wiggs Green & Mutala LLP

Embracing the cold in the Gatineaus

It’s cold here — a lot. And snowy. So don’t fight the winter, embrace it. And if you’re not one for skating, skiing, snowboarding, or winter camping, there’s still a place for you.

Le Nordik spa in Chelsea, Que., just 15 minutes from downtown Ottawa, offers up a fantastic outdoor Scandinavian spa experience, even when it’s -20 C outside. In fact, half the fun is having your hair freeze from the mist of the lovely hot tub while sitting beneath a starry night sky or grabbing your crackling frozen towel as you sprint from the hot tub back to the sauna.

My first visit was in the depth of winter about three years ago and I don’t think I’ve ever felt as relaxed as I did after a few rounds of sauna, tub, cold air, fireplace, etc. It’s a fantastic way to wash away stress (which many of us are experiencing in spades right now). It wasn’t as cold on my next visit but, I say, the more bracing the winter air, the more magical the experience.